How to Get Rid of Tongue Sores

Tongue Sores, also known as canker sores, are shallow ulcers that appear in the mouth. This article tells you how to get rid of tongue sores in the most quickest ways.

Fatima Rangwala

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2018

The annoyance is really high when sores occur in your mouth, making it really hard for you to eat your food comfortably. You cannot eat your favorite food nor can you chew it decently. At such times, all you see yourself doing is applying ointments or eating bland food all day. When ulcers, medically also known as tongue sores, canker sores, or aphthous stomatitis take place, they appear on the inside of the cheeks, on the lining of the mouth, or around the tongue making it look all reddish and bumpy in appearance. Ulcers literally worsen the condition of a person in terms of eating, talking, and sometimes swallowing. Once you see them appear in your mouth, you tend to feel bothersome about it, and the only thought that strikes your mind is how to get rid of them.

Causes

These sores are different from cold sores. Cold sores are formed by herpes virus, which are extremely contagious in nature. Also, they generally occur on the outer side of the mouth, whereas canker sores appear on the inside of the mouth, and are usually white in color having a red, itchy, irritated border. Canker sores are not contagious at all nor they are related to any virus. Their occurrence is mainly due to stress, allergic reactions, deficiency in immune system, nutritional deficiency, trauma, etc.

Treatment and Precaution

Following are a few quick and easy methods to know how to get rid of bumps on your tongue and quickly do away with all the annoyance:

Consume lysine since it has amino acid and few other vital properties, which our body essentially requires. Lysine is also known to maintain the tissue and collagen in the body. Hence, it proves to be the most effective way to treat this condition.

Apply mouth numbing gels which would manage the sore pain, something like glycerin or anbesol, which has benzocaine in it. Apply these gels directly to the sores, and it will heal faster or at least help alleviate the pain caused by the awful infection.

Avoid consuming acidic drinks and foods since they instigate the sores all the more, making them reappear time and again.

Do not bite the tongue or the sores on the inside of the mouth frequently, not even accidentally. Try to be extra careful, or else the condition would become even more worse.

Gargle with warm salt-water solution for three times a day to increase the chances of curing the sores.

Form a paste of baking powder and water. Apply the paste directly to your tongue ulcers. This method is recommended to be performed three times a day for best results.

Foods which are very spicy and high in acidity tend to irritate the texture of the ulcers even more. Therefore, avoid spicy foods like citrus, peppers, tomato sauce, etc.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), is a foaming agent that is added to many toothpastes. When you brush your teeth with a toothpaste having SLS in it, 80% condition of the cranker sores gets worsened due to this agent. It tends to irritate the ulcers and cause more sores in the mouth. So, brush your teeth twice a day, but with an SLS-free toothpaste.

Use the chemical called hydrogen peroxide. It is easily available in any pharmaceutical store. Dip a cotton swab into the solution and place it directly on the sore. This will kill all the contaminated bacteria surrounding the infection. Use the solution as a mouthwash to rinse your mouth, three times a day.

Thus, the aforementioned home remedies may help you get rid of tongue sores. However, if you experience symptoms such as large sores, sores lasting for more than three weeks, difficulty in eating or drinking, and unbearable pain, then consult a doctor for further treatment.

Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.